An outline of what the Government hopes to achieve by introducing the Clean Energy Bill 2011.

There are serious consequences of making misleading or deceptive representations during pre-contractual negotiations.

The Clean Energy Bill passed in the Senate on 8 November 2011.

In litigation, costs are said to act as a compensatory award rather than a punitive penalty – see Sagacious Legal Pty Ltd v Westfarmers General Insurance Limited (No 5) [2010] FCA 630.

There has been significant discussion in relation to the impact of the Internet on trade marks and brand protection, with every "next big thing" posing new challenges to brand owners.

Draft regulations require businesses in the building and construction industry to report payments made to contractors.

The Department of Justice and the Attorney General are expected to release a new lessor disclosure statement this Friday, 10 December 2010. The new disclosure statement will likely apply from 1 January 2011, and is intended to make disclosure requirements in Queensland consistent with those in New South Wales and Victoria.

On 3 March 2009, the Brisbane City Council proposed amendments, under section 2.1.19 of the Integrated Planning Act 1997, to six Planning Scheme Policies for infrastructure contributions.

The development industry and the LGAQ continue to disagree about processing times for Development Applications. I have never seen a Development Application processed within 12 weeks, either before or after the introduction of the Integrated Planning Act 1997.

The Land Appeals Court has decided that a lessee may have enough of an interest in the common areas related to its lease, to support a claim for compensation from a resuming authority if parts of those common areas are resumed; this should be kept in mind by parties entering into a lease.

The implications of a recent Brisbane District Court decision in J Hutchinson Pty Ltd v Thunder Investments Pty Ltd reminds us of the draconian effect of timeframes under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (Qld).

In a recent test case the Federal Court has ruled that initial and ongoing management fees, rent, operating costs and other fees of investors in a registered agricultural managed investment scheme are tax deductible.

The Federal Government’s response to the Henry Tax Review includes a proposed 30 percent resources exploration rebate for exploration expenditure incurred on or after 1 July 2011.

Significant changes to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 mean that you now have better access to information that the ATO holds about you and your business tax affairs.

On 1 July 2013 the Queensland Government released a detailed discussion paper on infrastructure charging.

Brand owners are often under a common misapprehension that they can rest on their laurels after registering a trade mark.

Companies investing in China and undertaking transactions with Chinese companies need to comply with the new procedures.

The Court was satisfied with the level of training and instruction by the employer for such a "fairly routine task".

The Court found in favour of the employer and the occupier, who were sued by a cleaner who was assaulted in the car park.

The NSW Workers' Compensation Commission determined that the claimant's injuries, at home, arose out of her employment.